Training4Manhood

Why Are You So Angry?

Guest: Michael Perron

 

When we agree with a “delusional idea,” we can get frustrated and angry. The “spirit of stupid” can jump on us and dumb things happen.

 

Where does this start? The idea that men feel “displaced” - they feel frustrated by pursuing something that isn’t significant or meaningful - the “world system” or the proverbial “rat race” isn’t meant to fulfill your deepest longings and desires.

 

Displacement leads to futility…like swabbing the decks on the Titanic! Work was intended to give man significance if done with an eternal perspective, as working for the Lord and not for man (Colossians 3:23). Hard work isn’t the problem, hard work that depletes your spirit and energy returning to you only temporary things (like money) will result, ultimately, in frustration.

 

Men - you can “recalibrate” - you can get out of the rat race and move in a different direction. But you have to stop and ask the important questions that address the foundation upon which you’re building your life and legacy. Moving in a different direction will feel foreign and the decision will be difficult, but it’s worth it in the end!

 

Anger isn’t always violence, volume, or venom, sometimes anger is passivity…the “cold shoulder” or the silent treatment.

 

What is the solution?

1. Find your correct identity as a creation of God meant for a meaningful and significant relationship with Him, made possible through the loving sacrifice of His only begotten Son Jesus!
2. Find a mentor, an older man whose life you want to emulate - and spend time with him, ask him questions about how to navigate life!
3. Stop looking at the world system to give you what only God can provide - peace, love, fulfillment, meaning, significance, purpose…if you’re a fig tree, start producing figs.

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle (info@training4manhood.com) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Huge thank you to Jared Wood for allowing T4M to use his music in our intro and outro selections.

The Ultimate Gift, Session 4

Guests: Jordan Whicker, Ethan Severin, Cole Travis

 

The Ultimate Gift is a fictional story about the journey of a young man named Jason Stevens who is the spoiled, rotten grand-nephew of Red Stevens, who leaves a series of “gifts” for Jason to learn, under the guidance and tutelage of his attorney friend Theodore J. Hamilton. Each chapter is a new “gift” that Jason must learn - and, as a young man, you need to learn as well.

 

The Gift of Gratitude

“I have often found it ironic that the people in this world who have the most to be thankful for are often the least thankful, and somehow the people who have virtually nothing, many times live lives full of gratitude.”

 

GK Chesterton quote:

“Among the rich you will never find a really generous man even by accident. They may give their money away, but they will never give themselves away; they are egotistic, secretive, dry as old bones. To be smart enough to get all that money you must be dull enough to want it.”

 

“The legacy of the Golden list” - those ten things that you are truly thankful for in your life…Jason’s list: his health, his home,his friends

 

Book recommendations:

The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges

Play the Man by Mark Batterson

 

The Gift of a Day

“When you face your own mortality, you contemplate how much of life you have lived versus how much you have left. It is like the sand slipping through an hourglass. I know that at some point I will have the last day of my life. I have been thinking about how I would want to live that day or what I would do if I had just one day left to live.”

• The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch…

“But after much thought, I have come to realize that my perfect day would be filled with the best of the simple things.”

 

Walk slowly - the most important person is the one right in front of you.

 

The Gift of Love

Love is a treasure for which we can never pay. The only way to keep it is to give it away.

 

“Love is a misused and overused term in our society. It is applied to any number of frivolous things and pursuits; but the love I am talking about in the gift of love is the goodness that comes only from God.”

 

“When we truly love others, our love makes each one of us a different person, and it makes each one we love a different person too.”

 

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle (info@training4manhood.com) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Huge thank you to Jared Wood for allowing T4M to use his music in our intro and outro selections.

The Castle Doesn’t Make the King

Guest: Michael Fechner and Ty Robinson

Your Life…Well Spent by Russ Crosson

Once we understand that God is more concerned about the eternal than the temporal, we face some unique challenges in the financial area. In the next few chapters we will look at the difference between PROSPERITY - the accumulation of goods on this earth - and POSTERITY - the heritage we leave in the generations that come after us.

In order for a builder to build a foundation, you have to be present - if you want to build a solid foundation for your family, as the husband and father, you have to be present at home. The most strategic time in the lives of our children is their first ten years…what are you doing during that important time in the life of your family?

Only change vocations to better fulfill your purpose and maximize your time flexibility, not to make more money.

Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.

As Albert Einstein once commented, “Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.” Money isn’t bad, but finding balance between time and money is crucial.

Greatest financial investment - your marriage!!! Most damaging financial decline for your net worth is generally divorce. Make sure you are working on your marriage.

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle (info@training4manhood.com) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Huge thank you to Jared Wood for allowing T4M to use his music in our intro and outro selections.

The Ultimate Gift, Session 3

Guests: Jordan Whicker, Ethan Severin, Cole Travis

 

The Ultimate Gift is a fictional story about the journey of a young man named Jason Stevens who is the spoiled, rotten grand-nephew of Red Stevens, who leaves a series of “gifts” for Jason to learn, under the guidance and tutelage of his attorney friend Theodore J. Hamilton. Each chapter is a new “gift” that Jason must learn - and, as a young man, you need to learn as well.

 

The Gift of Laughter

“It [the gift of laughter] is the ability to look at yourself, your problems, and life in general, and just laugh. Many people live unhappy lives because they take things too seriously.”

 

“Comparison is the thief of joy,” is attributed to President Theodore Roosevelt and several others - and it is a great warning that unhealthy comparison to others can rob you of joy with what you have!

 

Laughter can be infectious, but so can negativity!

 

God has an incredible sense of humor - where do you think your sense of humor came from??? Check out the sense of humor displayed by Jesus in the series The Chosen - and read the Bible for yourself to read about it from the original source!

 

Let’s not laugh at things that God is crying about…sin isn’t funny, it’s destructive.

 

The Gift of Dreams

“Dreams are the essence of life–not as it is, but as it can be.”

 

For a Christian, dreams are the essence of life with God at the center - ripe with the potential that with God all things are possible!

 

“Jason, this month, I want you to begin experiencing the gift of dreams. Assume everything is possible. Make a list of all the things you would like to do and be and have in your life. Then begin to prioritize that list as you discover the ones that generate the most passion in your soul.”

• I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength…Phil 4:13
• We should all practice this concept - God, what do YOU want me to do, how should I be spending the life that God has given me for HIS glory and purpose?

The Gift of Giving

“Conventional wisdom would say that the less you give, the more you have. The converse is true. The more you give, the more you have. Abundance creates the ability to give; giving creates more abundance.”

 

Giving can mean so much more than money - we all have time, talents, and treasure. The giving of money is only one aspect of what it means to give of yourself.  Maybe God is asking you to give the one of these that is the most difficult for you!

 

The Bible says a lot about money, most of it is a warning not to let money become a god or idol in your life. Giving is a direct indication about our worship.

What are you NOT willing to give to the Lord?

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle (info@training4manhood.com) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Huge thank you to Jared Wood for allowing T4M to use his music in our intro and outro selections.

You Can be a Powerful Presence and Bring Positive Energy

Guest: Chas Briscoe

Chas turned a football career-ending injury into a new path of bodybuilding, weight training, coaching, and teaching. His humility and positive energy are legendary among those who have been blessed to spend any time in his presence!

Wise Words from Chas:

• You can be a powerful presence and bring positive energy to every situation!
• You coach every day - you’re coaching a person in every interaction and you have the opportunity to make a great impact in the lives of others.
• Every person that has excelled has had challenging days.
• Life is full of baby steps, life is a process, the good things in life take time.
• Even though you’re young, carry yourself with maturity and integrity - consider Psalm 144:12.
• Respect is earned, not given. Earn it.
• Greatest success stories are of guys that started from nothing, had to overcome significant obstacles - those who have overcome are usually those who are willing to help others - PUSH should stand for Promptly Usher Someone Higher!
• Let young people learn from their mistakes.
• Check out some Zig Ziglar books and statements - most of what he taught is in the Book of Proverbs!
• I don’t compete against others….I complete others!
• I don’t want to enable you…I want to empower you!
• Men need to share their emotions - speak up when you’re hurting, get help!

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle (info@training4manhood.com) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Huge thank you to Jared Wood for allowing T4M to use his music in our intro and outro selections.

The Ultimate Gift, Session 2

Guests: Jordan Whicker, Ethan Severin, Cole Travis

 

The Ultimate Gift is a fictional story about the journey of a young man named Jason Stevens who is the spoiled, rotten grand-nephew of Red Stevens, who leaves a series of “gifts” for Jason to learn, under the guidance and tutelage of his attorney friend Theodore J. Hamilton. Each chapter is a new “gift” that Jason must learn - and, as a young man, you need to learn as well.

 

The Gift of Learning

Education is a lifelong journey whose destination expands as you travel.

“The only thing I can honestly say that I know now that I didn’t know when we left here four weeks ago is that the desire and hunger for education is the key to real learning.”

It takes a lot of humility to be a lifelong learner! Learning also takes hard work - learning doesn’t just happen, you have to make plans to learn!!!

The greatest insult is to tell someone that you have nothing to learn from them! Find people you want to learn something from, take them to coffee, and ask them good questions!

 

The Gift of Problems

“If we are not allowed to deal with small problems, we will be destroyed by slightly larger ones.”

The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt - prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child…good reminder!

When we can learn from our own problems, we begin to deal with life. When we can learn from other people’s problems, we begin to master life. What life lessons have you learned from watching others?

The world needs more Jesus…YOU have an opportunity to bring the Light of the World to address the problems in the world!

 

The Gift of Family

Jason went to the Red Stevens Home for Boys to see the value of family from those who look like they don’t have family.

 

It’s Better to Build Boys Than to Mend Men by C. Truett Cathy…the founder of Chick-fil-A was incredibly involved in the lives of young men, especially those without a family.

 

Family is not as much about being related by blood as it is about relating through love. If you don’t have a biological “family,” you can develop and invest in a spiritual family!

 

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle (info@training4manhood.com) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Huge thank you to Jared Wood for allowing T4M to use his music in our intro and outro selections.

The Value of Women in Helping to Shape Men

Guests: Tricia Panetti and Anna May

 

As women, what were the things you looked for in a man? Where did your “list” come from - who were the men in your life that demonstrated manhood to you? As a man, do you display those characteristics and if not, how do you plan to develop them?

1. A guy who is pursuing a strong and authentic relationship with Christ. Guys, if you’re not in the Word and around the family of God listening to the Word of God on a consistent basis, you’re not moving in the direction that godly women are looking for.
2. Fortitude. Women are looking for men with strong convictions and the spine to stand boldly on those convictions regardless of the winds of cultural change. Guys, what decisions have you made that are truly your convictions and will stick with them even if those decisions cost you?
3. Strong work ethic AND serving others. Guys, if you see yourself as a servant, you’re willing to put the needs of others ahead of your own. Do you find yourself always first in line for food or can you patiently wait until the end? Do you have to insert your opinion into the conversation or are you willing to listen and learn? Are you looking to do the dishes after dinner or taking out the garbage - not being asked to do these things, but serving others is second nature to you? 
4. Gentleman, manners, polite, treating others with respect, dignity, and kindness. Guys, do you see women as “more precious” and treat them with the respect and carefulness that they deserve - looking to protect and promote their interests - what’s best for them? Guys, remember, if a woman is physically attractive, but lacks character, she will “show” you what she has - and if all you see is her physical beauty, don’t assume that she has other important attributes like character and virtue!
5. Boundaries produce freedom! Guys, you need to lead a relationship by establishing proper boundaries, especially for the physical relationship. Guys, remember that as soon as you bring sex into your relationship, you set the ceiling on the emotional depth of your relationship - wait as long as possible, which is why God’s Word tells you not to “arouse and awaken love until it’s time” (Song of Solomon 2:7) (which means don’t have sex before the commitment of marriage).
6. Empathy. Women love a man who appreciates how others feel and takes into consideration the value that others bring to a relationship.
7. Communication. Guys, do you engage in meaningful conversation with a woman, asking questions, seeking to engage, listening well?
8. Humility. You’re never more like Christ than when you’re walking in humility. Guys, are you willing to grow and mature in your walk with the Lord and in your earthly relationships as well? If the seed of Christ isn’t in your life, the fruit of the Spirit won’t be evident in your attitude and actions.

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle (info@training4manhood.com) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Huge thank you to Jared Wood for allowing T4M to use his music in our intro and outro selections.

The Ultimate Gift, Session 1

Guests: Jordan Whicker, Ethan Severin, Cole Travis

 

The Ultimate Gift is a fictional story about the journey of a young man named Jason Stevens who is the spoiled, rotten grand-nephew of Red Stevens, who leaves a series of “gifts” for Jason to learn, under the guidance and tutelage of his attorney friend Theodore J. Hamilton. Each chapter is a new “gift” that Jason must learn - and, as a young man, you need to learn as well.

 

The Gift of Work

He who loves his work never labors.

 

The story sends Jason out to Alpine, TX to work on a ranch - in the middle of Big Bend country, down on the Texas border - part of Brewster County, largest county in Texas - nearly 4 million acres of land or over 6,000 square miles (little smaller than the country of Israel)

 

The work that Jason got to do was dig fence post holes to put up a new fence - for miles and miles and miles…

• Three of the four of us have used a fence post hole digger and agree - that’s REAL work!!!
• Colossians 3:23 - “do you work heartily as unto the Lord, and not for men”…who do you work for, whose approval do you seek for your work?
• Matthew 7 - the parable of building your house on the rock - may be harder and take more effort, but doing the job well means that the work will last through the storms of life!

 

The Gift of Money

Jason gets $1500 (the wages he “earned” by working on the ranch), and he’s supposed to go out and find 5 people who need the money and give it to them - to see the power of money. He ended up giving away $1800 - he put in $300 of his own money to help others in need.

• You can’t buy happiness with money. Money is a tool that can fix certain problems, pay specific bills, but it won’t solve the problems of the heart or bring meaning to life.

 

The Gift of Friends

It is a wealthy person, indeed, who calculates riches not in gold but in friends.

 

“Friend is a word that is thrown around far too easily by people who don’t know the meaning of it.”

 

"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence? true friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo & withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation." George Washington

 

“Friendship involves loyalty, commitment, and a process that includes sharing another person’s life.”

 

• The necessity of friends - especially for guys - we’re not meant to live life in a silo. Sin grows in isolation - surround yourself with good community.
• If you don’t have a friend, start with being a friend.
• Friends are forged, not found.
• In addition to good friendships, a man needs the Word of God to complete them - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent (complete), equipped for every good work.”

 

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle (info@training4manhood.com) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Huge thank you to Jared Wood for allowing T4M to use his music in our intro and outro selections.

”I Want to Make Disciples With You!”

Guest: Garrett Paulette

 

In an article by Daniel Fox for the Institute for Family Studies called The College Dating Divide, Fox writes this statement:

For single women, education appears to have a profound influence on dating expectations, according to a new report from the Survey Center on American Life. Close to half (45%) of college-educated single women say their relationship status is largely due to an inability to find someone who meets their expectations. 

 

Guys, what do you need to do to meet and surpass the “expectations” of these women looking for a man worthy of a relationship?

1. Develop good community that includes accountability centered on a solid relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. Recognize the need for growth and maturity.
3. Plug into a good church - and look for older mentors who can speak truth and encouragement into your life.
4. Find friends who call you up to better, not settling for easy and comfortable!
5. Be a “leader” in your church - find a place that expects you to commit, to serve, to not just show up and be seen, but a responsibility that actually costs you something! And don’t just “go” to church and listen to the pastor teach, you have to dig into the Word of God yourself!
6. And then, start dating. Spend time with wonderful women, treat them well, enjoy the time, and learn from the time together. Ask your date if there is anything that you can do better - and listen to her response!
7. What are you looking for in a relationship - Garrett looked for these things: are they plugged into a good church, are they in life-giving community, are they chasing after the Lord personally? Then he looked at how they treated other people. Physical attraction was important, but not more important than these other things.

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle (info@training4manhood.com) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Huge thank you to Jared Wood for allowing T4M to use his music in our intro and outro selections.

Passion and a Plan for Deepening Your Devotional Life

Guest: Chas Taylor

 

If you want to reach out to Chas to ask him questions, you can email him at cdtaylor1230@gmail.com. If you want to connect with Dan, you can email me at info@training4manhood.com

 

Chas points to a time of significant spiritual growth to his time at Rice University as he was discipled by Josh Bell who was part of the campus ministry called Chi Alpha, whose mission is to disciple university students to fulfill their purpose in God’s global plan.

 

“FDR”

Fellowship

Devotional Life

Responsibility

 

College - can be a significant time of personal growth and maturity - intellectually, culturally, physically, and spiritually. How are you using the time you have to invest in that personal growth? Are you seeking community and fellowship - pray and ask God to bring people across your path!

 

Matthew 13:44 - “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

 

Fellowship/Responsibility - find a younger guy to mentor, take him to lunch, meet, talk, share “bread” together - a meal and the Word of God! When you fill your “bucket” with the Word of God, you will have something to share with others.

 

Devotional Life - God is a person and wants to have an intimate, personal relationship with you. What you know about having, building, developing relationships with other people can help you know how to develop a meaningful relationship with God! Chas actually schedules his “Meeting with God” time everyday that he puts on his calendar and schedules around that time! If you don’t feel like you have time for God, maybe take inventory of your time and see where you might be “wasting” time that can be repurposed for something better!

 

Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster. Great resource to help you understand and begin to implement some spiritual disciplines (practices) that draw you closer to God including things like worship, study, memorization, meditation, silence, solitude, prayer, fasting, etc…Fasting is denying yourself physical nourishment so that you can feast on spiritual nutrition!

 

M’Cheyne Reading Plan

 

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

 

Logos Bible Software

 

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle (info@training4manhood.com) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Huge thank you to Jared Wood for allowing T4M to use his music in our intro and outro selections.